Wednesday, April 19, 2006

That's funny, I don't see it on the map...

We have a sub-specialty in books about fakes, forgery & fraud, and I'm always excited when I run across the tale of a new fraud I did not know about before. We just brought in a nice publisher's overstock title which falls into that category.

Ever vacation on the broad, sandy beaches, or go hiking through the temperate, leafy woodlands of the tiny Central American Country of Poyais? No? Well, there may be a reason for that...

Sir Gregor MacGregor and the Land that Never Was. The Extraordinary Story of the Most Audacious Fraud in History. by David Sinclair. Published by Headline Book Publishing in 2003.

”Once upon a time, in the heart of Central America, there was a country called Poyais. It was a country exceptionally rich in natural resources, civilization and culture, and was ruled by a brave an enlightened Scottish soldier, General Sir Gregor MacGregor, who had been made its cazique, or prince, after his many heroic exploits in the cause of South America’s struggle to liberate itself from the Spanish empire. In 1821 the Cazique of Poyais and his beautiful princess arrived in Britain to promote the virtues of their country and encourage immigration and investment.”

Within a year Sir Gregor MacGregor had become a celebrity, been honored by the Mayor of London, and had persuaded thousands of savvy investors to subscribe a L200,000 loan he floated on the London Stock Market. He also succeeded in persuading hundreds of settlers to uproot their lives and families, sell everything they owned, and set out on the long and perilous journey to this promised land in two ships. It was a journey from which most of them would never return, because, of course, there was no such country as Poyais...

This book is a hardcover. 5.5”x9”, 358 pages, b/w illustrations, dj. New. Published at $25.00. Copies available for a limited time for $10.00